The Daily Hustle: 5/5/10

While a taco cart would be nice, the proximity to the animal shelter raises troubling questions  … (Image courtesy City of Austin)

Busy day on the Board and Commission roster: City Council's Public Health and Human Services committee meets today, with potential new regulations for mobile food vendors on the agenda. Speaking of which, how long until we get a Korean taco truck or doughnut stand at the Betty Dunkerley Campus?

… I'm willing to bet you didn't know the City of Austin's under construction animal center is sited on the Betty Dunkerley Campus.

Am I right, or what?

The shelter, in a concession to placate Eastside neighborhoods, will be more than a waystation for wayward cats and dogs, hence the campus will host other Health and Human Services buildings and more. And yes, it is named for the former Mayor Pro Tem and ex-finance director, who always did the heavy lifting on the dais come budget time, to the chagrin of the council (and the city, really) once she left. (On the way out, she let it drop that the city had "too low a [property] tax rate" the whole time really, but who's counting?) But in press release parlance, she's honored "in recognition of her work in indigent care and animal health care issues during her tenure."

Moreover, the city's issued a call for public art to fill the campus, with an available budget of $175,000 to the lucky artist or artistes. So while they have until June 14 to wring out their paintbrushes and submit an application, TDH feels it's never too early to make some suggestions for art to honor the former finance maven. As compiled from around the office:

An enormous dollar sign constructed of auditing memoranda

A hole in the ground labeled "Structural City Deficit"

A performance piece by accountants using spread sheet apps

Just let Dunkerley do all the artwork; I'm sure we'll get the hang of it later …

What the hell else is happening?

A sampling of the city calendar: As mentioned, council's H&HS committee meets in the Board and Commission room at City Hall, 301 W. Second, 3pm, and on the agenda are potential new regulations for mobile food carts. You have have my taco when you pry it from my cold, dead hand! (Hopefully, that death wasn't caused by foodborne illness…)

The Solid Waste Advisory Commission's Recycling Ordinance Reform Subcommittee takes over the B&C room, 3pm, to likely act on setting expanded recycling efforts.

The Environmental Board meets in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 6pm. They'll consider approval for the Whisper Valley Planned Unit Development, among much else.

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